Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout3.1 TOWN OF LOS ALTOS HILLS May 4, 2006 Staff Report to the Planning Commission RE: SITE DEVELOPMENT PERMIT FOR A DETACHED GARAGE, STORAGE AREA AND LANDSCAPE SCREENING PLAN; LANDS OF LUND, 13826 TEMPLETON PLACE; 197-05-ZP-SD-GD FROM: Debbie Pedro, AICP, Senior Planne��_ . APPROVED BY: Carl Cahill,Planning Director/Acting City Managers_•-, RECOMMENDATION: That the Planning Commission: Approve the requested Site Development Permit, subject to the recommended conditions of approval in Attachment 1. ALTERNATIVE Approve the Site Development Permit for landscape screening but deny the request for a Grading Policy exception for the accessory structure, citing findings of denial in Attachment 2. BACKGROUND The subject property is located off of a driveway easement at the south end of the Templeton Place cul-de-sac. Surrounding uses include single-family homes on adjacent parcels to the north, west and south and across Fremont Road to the east. The parcel occupies the east facing flank of a sloping hillside. A two-story new residence with a basement was approved under Fast Track review and is currently,under construction. (SDP#181-02-ZP-SD-GD, 11/12/02 and #169-04-PM, 9/23/04) The applicant is proposing to convert two (2) previously approved outdoor parking spaces north of the main residence into a 400 sq. ft. two car garage with a 160 sq. ft. storage area below. In addition, the applicant is also requesting approval of a landscape screening plan per Condition of Approval #2 of the new residence permit. A letter from the applicant requesting approval of the project is included in this report. (Attachment 4) CODE REQUIREMENTS As required by Section 10-2.301 of'the Site Development Ordinance and the Town's Grading policy, 'this application has been forwarded to the Planning Commission for review and approval. The Zoning and Site Development sections of the Municipal Code are used to evaluate the accessory structure including building .siting, floor. and Staff Report to the Planning Commission Lands of Lund 13826 Templeton Place May 4,2006 Page 2 of 9 development area limitations, grading, drainage, height, setbacks, visibility, and parking requirements. Section 10-2.802 of the Municipal Code is used to evaluate landscape plans to address erosion, noise, visual effects, maintenance, tree preservation, views and amount required to adequately screen the new construction. DISCUSSION Site Data Net Lot Area: 1.03 acre Average Slope: 19.3% Lot Unit Factor: 0.826 Development and Floor Area: Area(sq.ft.) Maximum Existing Proposed Increase Remaining Development Area 9,903 9,493 9,654 161 249 Floor Area 5,000 4,432 4,992 560 8 Basement (1,546) Site and Architecture The applicant is requesting approval of a Site Development Permit.to construct an accessory building that consists of a 400 sq. ft. garage and a 160 square foot storage area north of the main residence. The proposed structure meets the setback, height, floor area and development area requirements established in Title 10, Zoning and Site Development, of the Los Altos Hills Municipal Code. The garage will be located 52'6" from the north property line, 88' from the east property line, 80' from the west property line, and 120' from the south property line..The maximum building height on a vertical plane as well as the maximum overall building height is 26'11". Proposed exterior materials include cedar wall shingles, wood windows, and cedar roof shingles to match the main residence. Code Violation Status In August of 2005, it came to the attention of the Engineering Department that excessive fill has been left on the eastern slopes of the property. A site inspection by Engineering staff and an updated grading plan submitted by the applicant confirmed that the current (as-built) condition in the subject area exceeds the grading levels approved for the project. The property owner indicated to staff that final grading for the construction project has not been completed and it is his intention to remove an additional 370 cubic yards of soil from the subject area. To ensure that remedial grading will be completed in a timely manner, the property owner was required to submit a $15,000 code compliance Staff Report to the Planning Commission Lands of Lund 13826 Templeton Place May 4,2006 Page 3 of 9 deposit to the Town. The code compliance deposit will be released when all grading improvements for the project is complete to the satisfaction of the City Engineer and a letter from a registered civil engineer or licensed land surveyor is submitted certifying that the grading is completed per the approved plans. (Condition#4) Grading Total proposed grading quantity for this project includes 135 cubic yards of cut for the accessory structure and 370 cubic yards of remedial grading in the area east of the driveway and south of the proposed garage. The Engineering Department reviewed the proposed grading plan and determined that it is not in conformance with the Town's grading policy. Specifically, portions of the driveway covering approximately 420 sq. ft. of area will require between 3' to 5' of fill and the outdoor area south of the new garage will require between 3' to 7' of fill. In addition, the front half of the detached garage covering approximately 220 square feet of floor area will have between 3' to 8.7' of grade differential between the finished floor elevation and existing grade. The Town's grading policy states that the "height of the lowest finished floor(s) of a structure should generally not be set in excess of three (3) feet above the existing grade, to assure that the structure step with the slope." rpm '~14.00' Drivew bw XNr aw SXiw \ r Rr5.00' rr _.PA- r—� . PA gg 1- COT, —X 1 \ 1 psar 1 MOD UPPER fF"I 2PBJ.' I '\ •1 1\Xiy I LAMER I I 1 ' 1 ■ "a'S M,.214 + 1 I 1 /rl � colt ..! j } :x■lrc■no-n I l i I I Ll I t^ x 1 I I I T�o,1,9. t ♦ � I I i I 1 Areas requiring grading I policy exception ?2 I •t. 1 1 1 1 1 I I I 1 z r Staff Report to the Planning Commission Lands of Lund 13826 Templeton Place May 4,2006 Page 4 of 9 The applicant has indicated that it is not feasible to lower the finished floor level of the re garage as it needs to match the elevation of the driveway. Further discussion regarding g the grading issues of the project can found in the report prepared by the Engineering Department dated April 25, 2006. (Attachment 5) The Grading Policy is intended to be used by staff in evaluating and making recommendations to the Planning Commission and/or City Council regarding site development applications, and as guidance for applicants. Individual sites may dictate a need to deviate from the criteria, to the extent permitted by the Planning Commission and/or City Council. If the Commission decides to deny the proposal, findings to deny the grading policy exception in attachment 2 should be cited. Neighbor Comments The adjacent neighbor at 13800 Templeton Place has expressed concerns about the excessive fill directly north of his property and the visibility of the detached garage. In December 2005, the neighbor stated his concerns regarding the visual impact of the proposed garage in an email to the property owner. The property owner responded to these concerns by proposing to install fast growing native trees around the garage. (See emails in Attachments 10 and 11) To help illustrate the amount of excess fill that has occurred on the property, the neighbor provided the Town with "before and after" photographs of the driveway and the slopes around the proposed garage. (Attachment 12) In addition to the comments received from the neighbor at 13800 Templeton Place, the Town also received an email from the adjacent neighbor to the west at 13838 Templeton Place stating her support of the project. (Attachment 9) Trees &Landscaping The project site contains a number of existing mature trees including redwood, pine, cedar, pittosporum and bay trees that provide screening along the east and west property lines. The applicant is proposing to plant an additional thirty six (36) 24" box trees including ironwood, strawberry, olive, willow, magnolia, and Chinese pistache along the perimeter of the property and around the new residence to help screen the view of the structures from off-site. A detailed planting plan showing the new trees and shrubs is included in Attachment 12. If the Commission decides to approve the proposed detached garage, staff recommends the following conditions be included to address the view and privacy concerns of the downhill neighbor: 1) No window shall be allowed on the north elevation of the garage. (Condition#5) Staff Report to the Planning Commission Lands of Lund 13826 Templeton Place May 4,2006 Page 5 of 9 2) Increase the size of the screen trees by requiring six (6) mature tree specimen (minimum 15' tall x 8' wide) to be planted along the north property line and directly north of the new garage mitigate the view impacts of the structure from neighboring properties. (Condition#6) Outdoor Lighting Two (2) wall mounted lights are proposed on the west elevation of the building in front of the garage doors and one (1) light will be installed at the entryway to the storage room below on the east side of the building. Twelve (12) path lights and five (5) tree mounted downlights will be installed around the house as shown on the landscape and lighting plan. The proposed light fixtures have frosted glass cover to minimize glare and ensure that the source of the lighting is not directly visible from off-site. Staff has included the condition of approval (#9) for outdoor lighting, requiring that fixtures be downshielded, low wattage, and shall not encroach or reflect on adjacent properties. Committee Review The Environmental Design Committee has commended the applicant for utilizing drought tolerant plantings on the landscape plan. (Attachment 8) CEQA REVIEW The project is categorically exempt under Section 15303(e) of the CEQA Guidelines. ATTACHMENTS 1. Recommended conditions of approval 2. Findings of denial for the Grading Policy exception 3. Site Map 4. Letter from Craig Lund, property owner, April 27, 2006 5. Report analyzing grading issues prepared by the Engineering Department, April 25, 2006 6. Grading Policy 7. Worksheet#2 8. Comments from Environmental Design Committee,November 22, 2002 9. Letter from Ann Rando, 13838 Templeton Place, October 12, 2005 10. Email from Ken Lee, 13800 Templeton Place, December 20, 2005 11. Email response from Craig Lund,December 21, 2005 12. "Before and After" photographs of the project site provided by Ken Lee, 13800 Templeton Place 13. Development plans: site, grading &drainage, irrigation landscape and lighting plans cc: Craig Lund, 1409 Fallen Leaf Lane,Los Altos, CA 94024 Staff Report to the Planning Commission Lands of Lund 13826 Templeton Place May 4,2006 Page 6 of 9 ATTACHMENT 1 RECOMMENDED CONDITIONS FOR SITE DEVELOPMENT PERMIT FOR AN DETACHED GARAGE AND STORAGE BUILDING AND LANDSCAPE SCREENING PLAN LANDS OF LUND; 13826 TEMPLETON PLACE File# 197-05-ZP-SD-GD A. PLANNING DEPARTMENT: 1. No other modifications to the approved plans are allowed except as otherwise first reviewed and approved by the Planning Director or the Planning Commission, depending on the scope of the changes. 2. All landscaping required for screening purposes or for erosion control, as redlined on the plans and as determined by the City Engineer, must be installed prior to final inspection, unless the Planning Director finds that unusual circumstances, such as weather or site conditions, require that planting be delayed. In those instances, a deposit of an amount equal to the cost of landscape materials and installation, to the satisfaction of the Planning Director, shall be submitted to the Town. Landscaping shall in any event be installed not later than six months after final inspection, or the deposit will be forfeited. . 3. A landscape maintenance deposit of $10,000.00 shall be posted prior to final inspection of the new residence. An inspection of the landscape to ensure adequate establishment and maintenance shall be made'two years after installation. The deposit will be released at that time if the plantings remain viable. 4. The $15,000 code compliance deposit submitted to the Town on April 20, 2006 shall be released when all grading improvements for the project is complete to the satisfaction of the City Engineer and a letter from a registered civil engineer or licensed land surveyor is submitted to the Town stating that it was completed as shown on the approved plans. 5. No windows shall be installed on the north elevation of the detached garage. �I z � Staff Report to the Planning Commission Lands of Lund 13826 Templeton Place May 4,2006 Page 7 of 9 6. Six (6) mature tree specimen with minimum dimensions of 15'H x 8'W shall be planted along the north property line and directly north of the new garage prior to final inspection of the new residence. 7. The driveway entry gates and columns shall be located within the property lines and shall not exceed 6' in height. 8. The total maximum height of the driveway columns and entry lights shall not exceed 7'. 9. Outdoor lighting is approved as shown on the approved site plans. No lighting may be placed within setbacks except two entry or driveway lights. Lighting shall be down shielded, low wattage, shall not encroach or reflect on adjacent properties, and the source of the lighting shall not be visible from off the site. Any additional outdoor lighting shall be approved by the Planning Department prior to installation. B. ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT: 10. The site drainage associated with the proposed development must be designed as surface flowwherever possible to avoid concentration of the runoff. The proposed drainage shall be designed to maintain the existing flow patterns. Final drainage and grading shall be inspected by the Engineering Department and any deficiencies corrected to the satisfaction of the Engineering Department prior to final inspection. A final letter shall be submitted from the project engineer stating that the site grading and drainage were constructed in conformance with the approved plan prior to final inspection. 11. Any, and all, changes to the approved grading and drainage plan shall first be approved by the Town Engineering Department. No grading shall take place during the grading moratorium (October 15 to April 15) except with prior approval from the City Engineer. No grading shall take place within ten feet of any property line. 12. The location and elevation of the garage shall be certified in writing by a registered civil engineer or licensed land surveyor as being in/at the approved location and elevation shown on the approved Site Development plan prior to final inspection. 13. Two copies of an erosion and sediment control plan shall be submitted for review and approval by the Engineering Department prior to acceptance of plans for building plan check. The contractor and the property owner shall i Y 1 Staff Report to the Planning Commission Lands of Lund 13826 Templeton Place May 4,2006 Page 8 of 9 comply with all appropriate requirements of the Town's NPDES permit relative toadin and erosion/sediment control. All areas on the site that i�' g have the native soil disturbed shall be protected for erosion control during the rainy season and shall be replanted prior to final inspection. 14. The property owner shall inform the Town of any damage and shall repair any damage caused by the construction of the project to pathways, private driveways, and public and private roadways, prior to final inspection and release of occupancy permits and shall provide the Town with photographs of the existing conditions of the roadways and pathways prior to acceptance of plans for building plan check. 15. Two copies of a grading and construction operation plan shall be submitted by the property owner for review and approval by the City Engineer and Planning Director prior to acceptance of plans for building plan check The grading/construction operation plan shall address truck traffic issues regarding dust, noise, and vehicular and pedestrian traffic safety on Templeton Place and surrounding roadways; storage of construction materials; placement of sanitary facilities; parking for- construction vehicles; and parking for construction personnel. A debris box (trash dumpster) shall be placed on site for collection of construction debris. Arrangements must be made with the Los Altos Garbage Company for the debris box, since they have a franchise with the Town and no other hauler is allowed within the Town limits. 16. The property owner shall restore the existing pathway along Fremont Road adjacent to the property to a type 2B pathway to the satisfaction of the City Engineer prior to final inspection of the new residence. CONDITION NUMBER 13, 14 AND 15 SHALL BE COMPLETED AND SIGNED OFF BY THE CITY ENGINEER PRIOR TO ACCEPTANCE OF CONSTRUCTION PLANS FOR PLAN CHECK BY THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT. Project approval-may be appealed if done so in writing within 23 days of the date of this notice. The building permit cannot be issued until the appeal period has lapsed. The applicant may submit construction plans to the Building Department after May 27, 2006, provided the applicant has completed all conditions of approval required prior to acceptance of plans for building plan check. Upon completion o the construction a nal inspection shall be required to be set with P .f � .1� P P 4 the Planning and Engineering Departments two weeks prior to final building inspection approval. i • Staff Report to the Planning Commission Lands of Lund 13826 Templeton Place May 4,2006 Page 9 of 9 NOTE: The Site Development permit is valid for one year from the approval date (until May 4, 2007). All required building permits must be obtained within that year and work on items not requiring a building permit shall be commenced within one year and completed within two years. r i ATTACHMENT 2 RECOMMENDED FINDINGS OF DENIAL FOR GRADING POLICY EXCEPTION LANDS OF LUNID, 13826 TEMPLETON PLACE File#197-05-ZP-SD-GD 1. The proposed area of grading will occur on a hillside and will result in the visual alteration of the natural terrain and existing contours. 2. The Grading Policy emphasizes cut to lower the profile of structures over fill or foundation walls, which tend to raise the profile of the structure. The garage will have up to 8.7' of grade differential between the finished floor elevation and existing grade. 3. The proposed grading does not conform with Section 10-2.702.c of the Los Altos Hills Municipal Code because the proposed grading will raise the profile of the structure and render it more visible from off-site. SITE MAP Lands of Lund 13826 Templeton Place 197-05-ZP-SD-GD AOOQe _ , ,boso 151 i 79 qv-cop S J d �"� 'TOWN +{� _}I LOT 1 LOT 2 + Oka 'e IT n OF 1.87 AC. e L / ++ LJQTAG * ALTO, 1 �°'� 1 �l ,o•Esrxr f+ 88 O� 59 �t- �� H1LL��a•`` F ON T -PO � a if :Stc.wiro rami QQP 17 fp zp 346 _- aGF 'bR�tar+t r� 58 0 �19< 6P 1.74L/1 O // r1�e�r �d �? ^PCL,i 12 atv� 16 eJee °"y � �°� �L' ' Q�Yi `4v 1� A s• MAP N° 6 of the iso 0 C asp 53 t ;� ,�� �+ VN TOWN of LOS ALTOS 65 P.M.673•M-39 45 PCL. }R bSP�•N Z ti e ky 4P� yl� I.H92 v° _� ��+ 2729 AL' PT AC. �sr _ 4c a aq saw_ g8e .�L 1.3 At - ... _ '°'�e' R�'"�� 4 Project Site L 39 ,2', ' p + 1.036 AC 1.123 AC. '1' -- NrN 9 IODAc yJ�� `� —yiCr �Q►` 1 q a l be r.�r + e }Gw�� Q L5 4Y 10 1 "js668.s.6eeJ 101!}k I� 6t 1.13 AC. .09 ,a, S P 4 of the TOWN 0� LO � S ALTOS ` sm'+a �� �40 49 "� �+oo k �'p 1 j LB 0% 41'l,O 1! 3.149 AC. +0 u f 28 �A p� Af70*Yryy�.. g gr+ Y 1 4 28 iga A `�"�^ ' rJ&AtTp'fAL• aJLhlta_$ .3 8f t C) ¢ala Z8 \ ..NaR...n r 0 ,'� C� 5 1 asa § 10o r.1 f+►t! ooAe A 6„Y 49 }�O lr+� l l ,�; r,�cs+o i 21 ror,e ±7 }. o d r 57 g1r 30 `. 50 Q 3 1 w aj 1.012 Ac I t o9 Ae6ErAt $,.\66 nA ---� "°�.`�... O m e�F ROBLEDA 1{1LL8 i W 28 1 IF ATTACHMENT. April 27, 2006 Planning Commission Town of Los Altos Hills 26379 Fremont Road Los Altos, Hills, CA 94022 Re: Grading Exception 13826 Templeton Place Los Altos Hills, CA Dear Madam and Sirs: Our home, currently under construction, is located on Templeton Place and overlooks Fremont Road and Old Altos Way in Los Altos Hills. The submission for your approval is for the landscape plan and for a secondary structure (garage). In addition to a landscape plan and secondary structure approval, we are asking the Planning Commission to approve a grading exception in three locations. The first area is in the slope of the driveway; the second area is south of the garage and the third is the garage itself. These areas are 1.5' feet above the town's 3 foot maximum guideline.The exception south of the garage will allow excess fill to remain onsite to buffer our home from Fremont and Old Altos Way thus providing more privacy and minimizing mass from our home. Grading History and Site Approval This has been a very challenging site to develop. With the slope as it existed when we bought the property in 1999 and the grading that occurred when the property was first developed in the 1960's, finding the natural grade has been a matter of speculation among the various civil engineers with which we have worked. We straggled to develop a plan which would meet the needs of our family and the Town's criteria for MDA,WA and grading. The plan, which was approved November 12, 2002 (Pennit#181-02-ZP- SD-GD and subsequently modified September 23, 2004(Permit# 169-04-PM), called for a the site to be balanced; ie, no dirt would be on or off hauled, however, it became apparent that dirt would need to be taken away and over 100 Cu yds. of dirt have been off-hauled thus far. When we obtained approval for this property, we had a grading survey prepared by Berry and Associates, John C. Berry,RCE 18720, a licensed civil engineer who signed and stamped the grading plan. This grading plan was reviewed and approved the Town of 1 JC Los Altos Hills engineers,Mr. Ross and Mr. Chau. This plan differs from the original � P Kier&Wright survey that was prepared in 1999. I don't know the reason for the difference,but I have told that civil engineers often vary their survey based upon field observations. I have no reason to believe otherwise. Garage Plan Our home was approved with a 2 car garage and 2 outdoor spaces measuring 19 ft x 19 ft. at an elevation up to 227.5 feet. We are asking for a finished floor elevation for the proposed garage of up to 228.7 feet. When we went for approval, the Town planning department said that we could not use the approved 227.5 elevation,but we needed to go back to a prior survey to determine natural grade and work from there. The plan that you see before you was derived in trying to adhere to the Town's grading policies. Because we have ample MFA allowance(568 SF) we developed a split level plan: 160 sf in the lower area and 400 sf in the upper area where the cars would be parked. Total height at the back(east) side is 26 feet 11 inches and at the front(north) 17 feet. In these regards we comply with the Town's guidelines and the Town Planners told me that they would support the project as proposed. Neighborhood Impact-Design and Landscaping Throughout the design and development process, we have been very sensitive to the inconvenience an impact our home would have on our neighbors. We have carried through this concern in the siting of our house as well as landscape design. We have called for 24"box trees to be placed along all of the neighboring property lines to provide a landscape buffer between our homes so we will be fully screened from each other. We even planted daffodils along the driveway even though we don't live there to enjoy it. We have called for California Ironwood trees to be placed along the property line between the Lee residence, the Rando residence, the Franks residence along Fremont to screen our house and garage. According to Chris Kankel of Kikuchi and Associates, California Ironwoods are full, robust,fast growing trees that will, upon maturity,reach a height of 40 feet. Along the garage we have called for olive trees and Grevallea Rosmarinifolia schrubs which reach 5-8 feet in diameter. Under the Ironwoods will be planted 5 gallon shrubs of California Holly and Italian Buckthorn. In short,the garage will be fully screened from all sides. Noise There will be no negative noise impact to the neighbor vs. the current plan. In fact, car doors opening and closing, as well as cars starting will be attenuated with an enclosure. Lighting We have used approved Town of Los Altos Hills lighting for the exterior. The building will be screened from the neighbors with trees. Grading Exception-South of Garage e The area south of the garage, which will be unseen by the neighbors, would require an additional 285 cu yds of soil to be off-hauled(in addition to 525 cu yds),but we think the site will benefit from not requiring the dirt to be removed for the following reasons: • Visual buffer of the house from Fremont • Hides mass of the house • A side yard to the garage • More closely follows the site's natural grade • More privacy from our home to Fremont Road • Significant reduction of off-haul by 285 Cu. Yds. • No negative impact to the neighboring properties We feel this plan as submitted provides the best alternative for the house, site and neighborhood. Thanks for your consideration. Very truly yours, Craig Lund r ATTACHMENT April 25, 2006 TO: Debbie Pedro, Senior Planner FROM: John Chau, Assistant Engineer RE: Lund Residence 13826 Templeton Place File#197-05-ZP-SD Landscape Screening &Garage Discussion: On September 23, 2004, staff received a Site Grading, Drainage, and Utility Plan prepared by Berry and Associated for a Permit Modification for a new residence, file # 181-02-ZP-SD-GD. The plan was reviewed and approved by staff. The plan was generally met the Town's grading policy except approximately fifty square feet of the outdoor parking area exceeds the 3' fill limit. Up to 4' of fill was approved at the northeast corner of the parking area. On April 20, 2006 staff received a Proposed Garage and Site Improvements Plan prepared by Lea & Sung Engineering, Inc. dated April 5, 2006. The plan shows the existing contour lines, as-built contour lines, and proposed contour lines. The plan also shows the proposed finish floor elevation of the proposed garage. Based on the referenced plan, the as-built grading has not constructed per the approved plan prepared by Berry and Associated. Attached are the engineering findings: Page 1 of 2 Existing grade per Proposed grade To date (as-built) New proposed Area exceeds 3' Location Kier & Wright topo (Approved 2004) condition per Bagoye & grade dill surveySept.. ,dated June 1999 Fing,Inc. survey Driveway El. 221 to 224 El. 222 to 226 El. 224 to 228 El. 224 to 228 420 s ft. Max. fill= 3' Max. fill = 5' Max. fill = 5' q' El. 222 per Kier& El. 227 to 227.5 El. 228 to 228.5 1� 4tr Per hs«'�' g �` � � ��,� *�'� r��+���„����”i r��� '""�',F" Berry& Wright topo survey 1114 per Berry .ft�l � � Outdoor &Associates plan A PON Y Associates plan Parking r, � ' A�r ���� � sr eac�% Area �� a , �, 360 sq.ft per Kier � patby�� ykgg' Max. fill =5.5 per Max. fill = 6.5 per Kier& &Wright topo Assc� e Kier&Wright topo survey Wright topo survey survey Garage El. 220 to 222 El. 228 El. 228.7 200 sq.ft. Max. fill= 8' Max. fill = 8.7' Back yard South of El. 217 to 224 No El. 220 to 229 El. 220 to 228 ( grading was approved Max. fill= 9' Max. fill=7' 300 sq.ft. garage) * Contour lines from Site Grading, Drainage, and Utility Plan prepared by Berry and Associates are different from Kier and Wright Topographic Survey. Page 2 of 2 i ATTACHMENT .(n POLICY REGARDING GRADING Policy Re: Grading Code Sections and Design Guidelines: p Section 10-2.702(c) of the Site Development Ordinance states that: "The amount of grading, excavation, or fill shall be the minimum necessary to accommodate proposed structures, unless grading is proposed to lower the profile of buildings." Section 10- 2.703(a) requires that: "Type II foundations - step-on-contour, daylight,pole foundations, or a combination thereof- shall be used on building sites with natural slopes in excess of fourteen percent (14%)." Policy A-2 of Goal I of the Design Guidelines (p. S) indicates that construction should "blend with the contour of the land." Policy A-2 of Goal Il (p. 14) indicates that: "On a sloping site, the structure should be stepped down the hill utilizing one story building elements. Avoid cantilevers and stilts over downhill slopes. Cut foundations should be used instead of fill on hilly terrain." Intent: The purpose of this policy is to outline desired criteria for grading which assure that construction retains the existing contours and basic landform of the site to the greatest extent feasible. It is also intended that the policy provide guidance for "stepping" structures down sloped hillsides, and emphasizes cut to lower the profile of structures over fill or foundation walls, which tend to raise the profile of the structure. While balanced cut and fill is desirable to minimize import or export of soil to�onfrom a site, it is recognized that the Town's policies and the guidelines below may encourage export as cut is generally preferred over fill. These policies are intended to be used by staff in evaluating and.. making . recommendations to the Planning Commission and/or City Council regarding site development applications, and as guidance for applicants. Individual sites may dictate a need to deviate from the criteria, to the extent permitted by the Planning Commission and/or City Council. Policy Re: Grading page 2 Policies: 1. Cuts and fills in excess of the following generally levels enerall will be considered excessive and contrary to Town ordinances and policies to grade only to the minimum extent necessary to accommodate structures and to site structures consistent with slope contours,i.e., "step down"the hill*: Cut FM House 8'** 3' Accessory Bldg. 4' 3' Tennis Court 6' 3' Pool 4'*** 3' Driveways 4' 3' Other(decks,yards) 47 3' * Combined depths of cut plus fill for development other than the main residence should be limited to.6 feet, except that for tennis courts cut plus fill may be permitted up to a maximum of 8 feet. ** Excludes basements meeting Code definition. *** Excludes excavation for pool. 2. The height of the lowest finished floor(s) of a structure should generally not be set in excess of three (3) feet above the existing grade, to assure than structures step with the slope. 3. Driveway cut may be increased up to a maximum of eight feet (8') for the portion of the driveway or backup area which is adjacent to a garage that has been lowered with a similar amount of cut. 4. Cut and/or fill for drainage shall be limited consistent with the guidelines set forth above for each type of structure, but shall be the minimum grading needed for drainage purposes,as determined by the City Engineer. Approved by City Council: April 2, 1997 i 'y ATTACHMENT,�] TOWN OF LOS ALTOS HILLS QA's s+�siiri= Riluttva tic,: .CII/L!.EH211 �'F�:x::.�aWp.6LIFYGi'Of35:• CALCULATIONS BY.LEA&BUNG ENGINEERING(sid)887-086 WORKSREET#2 EXISTING AND PROPOSED DEVELOOMENT AREA AND FLOOR AREA PROPERTY OWNER(S): . . Craig Lund PROPERTY ADDRESS 13826 Templeton Place.: .; CALCULATED BY...':: JE, DATE j.March 21,'2006' REFERENCE MAP:. X:: JOB# - 2051008, ; 1;JAVLLOPMEIVT AREA(SQUAB)✓FOOTAGE) Existing Proposed Tota[ A. House and Garage(From Part B) 560 : * 4992 C. Driveway&Parking+From Walk 3566: X399. -3167;. (srieasuirci IOD'�ilctng centerline}. :• 0 : '� _ E Walkways(Rear) ,4x tit F. Rear Patio 0--:' G. �,�Decks/fesaces :0 H. Fool,Spa and Decls?ng, 0 1. Accessary Building(From Part B) J. -lion)other cffycrage(Pave-lion) 0 Totals ' Maximum Deuelopmeut Area Allowed.-MDA(from worksheet#1) -9903 Sq Ft; 2.Fl-gor Area(SQUARE FOOTAGE) Existing: Ptopoged Total. A. House and Garage a 1st Floor 2Q94 . * * 2034: b.- 2nd`Floor - 17?6 1776.. ". C. Attic 8c Basement * 4(0 d. Garage 562 ' * * 562. :: l) B. Accessory Buiildit;gs 0..: a. Ist Floor 400 400.- b. 2nd Floor 0 c. Attic and Basement 160 160 Totals 4432 560 4992 Maximum Floor Area Allowed-MFA(firm worksheet#1) 5000 Sq.T~ I_ denotes floor area supplied by arclutect * 1>L UF%.5;allowable MDA=?500s,f(min),if LUF{.5,conditiattal developmeui permit applies 'x**I>LUF>.5;allowable.MFA=5040s f(mini,1f..LUF<.5;conditiotial develo p inent "mnit ap lies TO& USE.ONLY:– CHECKED BY: DATE I -�►�sc j G �� Lu Nj b � ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN COMMITTEE ATT LANDSCAPEM ARDSCAPE EVALUATION NO HM7 8 1 7 Applicant's Name: L U N 2005 Address: Reviewed by: n rc-061)' ,. U2- , S`L- Date: I� -o -S N eej2p- Mitigation needed: Visibility from off site: from distance (directions), from nearby neighbors (directions) (include need for screening for privacy). Noise: from pump/pool , air conditioner , sport court Lights: from fixtures , automobile headlights Fence materials: color , open/solid Erosion control Other: Planting Plan Evaluation: (Circle required trees and shrubs on plan) Are species appropriate: Deciduous? Future height(view, solar, drive/path blockage) Fire hazard Hardiness/frost Drought tolerance Meet mitigation needs Creeks and drainage: Is there a conservation easement? Are there sufficient protections in place? Will fences impact wildlife migration? Invasive species should not be planted near a waterway. Other: Are there obstructions to pathways, including future growth of plants? Are all noise mitigations in place? /�o construction in road right-of-way. � Page lof I Debbie Pedro ATTACHMENT / From: Annrando@ao.com Gent: Wednesday, October 12,2005 8:49 AM To: Debbie Pedro;John Chau Subject: Lund Home onTempleton Place Dear Debby and John, Please forgive this informal way ofcommunicating. | have just returned from emonth long trip toEurope and am omdelighted tmbeback inLos Altos Hills.Aothe home being built bvCraig Lund iemoving quickly, | wanted to express my support for the elements to be reviewed and passed by the planning commission. Mr. Lund has shown the landscape plans tome, having worked carefully with his designers inorder bzprovide trees and shrubs that fit the environment and that will enhance his home and the total area. I am satisfied with his choices as described. In question were the areas that border our properties and those of other neighbors. I have reviewed these areas and anninagreement with decisions. At this time, acouple of changes tothe original plan are tobeconsidered bvthe commission. | persona|hdoncd have aproblem w�hthe add�ionofwindows onthe wm�side ofthe upper sryorwiththmaddimnofa- encloamdganageopccein placenfoutside parking areas. | have reviewed the plan and trust that the decisions will beinsupport ofatotally attractive space. Yamavailable for any questions orcommunication.With thanks, Sincerely, Ann8ando 13838 Templeton Place Los Altos Hills S41'5OBG � 4/77/�A06 Debbie Pedro ATTACHMENT From: ken[kenlee@coretechoptical.com) Sent: Tuesday, December 20,2005 11:02 PM To: Craig Lund Cc: Chris Vargas; ann rando;John Chau; Debbie Pedro Subject: garage Hi Craig: As I am sitting in my family room, I can see the site of your new detached garage. I would like to make the following comments, and I hope it is not too late: The garage will be fairly close to us, and being at a higher elevation( I think it is about 20 feet above my house), it would be very noticeable. it would help if you can have a design that can lower its profile. I understand that the roof pitch may need to be high to match the rest of your house, and the overall garage will be tall. I would appreciate it if you can have a design that: 1, minimize the overall apparent size, and/or 2, lower the structure, or lower the floor elevation, and/or 3, plant more fast growing tall trees and shrubs to hide the garage and to blend in to create a more natural look. Thanks for your consideration Ken ATTACHMENT Debbie Pedro From: Craig Lund[cra.lund Cry lundfinancial.com] Sent: Wednesday, December 21, 2005 9:52 AM To: ken Cc: Chris Vargas; ann rando; John Chau; Debbie Pedro Subject: Re: garage Hi Ken- Thanks for your good suggestions. I can lower the profile and think it would look architecturally better to have a low profile vis a vis the main house. As you note, it should retain the same lines as the main house to fit in the overall plan. The landscape plan calls for fast growing native trees, California Ironwoods,to be placed on our property and along the fence. Ironwoods get to a height of 40' and should get there pretty quickly. I also have asked the designer to include 4 trees in your line of sight to shield the garage and shrubs along the outline. Thanks again for your input. Happy holidays to you and your family. Craig On Dec 20, 2005, at 11:02 PM, ken wrote: > Hi Craig: > As I am sitting in my family room, I can see the site of your new > detached garage. I would like to make the following comments, and I > hope it is not too late: >The garage will be fairly close to us, and being at a higher > elevation( I think it is about 20 feet above my house) , it would be > very noticeable. it would help if you can have a design that can lower > its profile. I understand that the roof pitch may need to be high to > match the rest of your house, and the overall garage will be tall. I > would appreciate it if you can have a design that: > 1, minimize the overall apparent size, and/or > 2, lower the structure, or lower the floor elevation, and/or > > 3, plant more fast growing tall trees and shrubs to hide the garage > and to blend in to create a more natural look. >Thanks for your consideration > Ken 1 r ,• 4 Pl •_ 4 Irj _ � R .4"l/f� 1 r •�r � —� f' .�1� •�7A�1�1.� ! '.Y�� .��`��` �r. r.. ' a li. tlr �. �i1y! ,_cep� ;��„ •.t +rR f •A +� E 1•M r��w .,f t11 _ � I ,�.3, —': '.!•� `� S ' ass Yf '. '. S�:�SI 14, •k � .. N y:�'_ -'t,p.e f1,1,� '!a- ,tet � -�� .. r.�i - •�y t' '' � � a. K.'''' F' MY '•$ r �'Nyq e. .+. y<Yp �• .�' /., as !L •4a 1, ._ ~.f 1� �� T. �� � ; � � •, N• .�• � .y{ ` ei•� r! . ' ,-;fir r'.�Iy Ar .40 �• a i6#.' ..�\- IL �yy �` • .a W +- � � a'.. v.Vii'. ,y 1 . t `- 't_. r -.. +M•r+a vvdip' � '-" .>Y rto- t e�Ni a jy 3 4 , v� c R xt 51. - LFR £• . � ,J. ` ��+5 a. 't� a y�! - •I `' � ^�